Question

Explain any two social development indicators prevailing during the colonial period.

Hint:

Take any two: very low literacy (female literacy even lower) and very high mortality with alarming infant mortality, due to poor health facilities.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand what is asked:
Social development indicators show how people live in matters of education and health.
We have to explain any two of them as they stood during British rule (the colonial period).

Step 2: Indicator 1: Literacy:
Education had spread very little among people. The overall literacy rate was very low, below 16 percent.
Female literacy was even lower, at only about 7 percent.
Poor access to schools and colleges kept most people outside education.

Step 3: Indicator 2: Mortality and health:
Health facilities were poor and diseases spread widely. Safe drinking water and sanitation reached very few people.
So the death rate was very high, and the infant mortality rate was alarming, at about 218 per thousand.
Life expectancy was also very low.

Final Answer:
Two social development indicators of the colonial period were a very low literacy rate (with even lower female literacy) and a very high mortality rate with alarming infant mortality.